11 Facts About Oprah That Will Make You Love Her More

Oprah is a saint. You don’t even have to watch her show to know that’s true. Not only is Oprah one of the richest Hollywood stars, she is without a doubt the most generous, touching the hearts of millions across the world. Oprah shares her life experiences, both good and bad, with the public and uses her influence and her stories to encourage others to take risks, make a difference in their communities, and stand up for themselves. Just in case you needed more reasons to love her, here are 11 facts that prove Oprah is just the best.

1.

Via blog.alumnicorps.org

Oprah's Angel Network had raised more than $50 million for various charities. Oprah personally covered all administrative costs for the charity, which meant that 100% of the funds raised actually went to the charity programs. Not only that, but she often personally matched the public's sum donation.

2.

Via urbantimes.co

In January 2007, Oprah opened The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls near Johannesburg, South Africa to educate girls from impoverished backgrounds to become global citizens and leaders. Oprah personally donated $40 million to establish the school.

3.

Via tennessean.com

Oprah’s first job was at a Nashville TV station. She was the youngest news anchor in the station’s history at just 19 years old.

4.

Via nydailynews.com

While at her first job, she once went on air right after a bad perm. It was so bad that her hair fell out just before she appeared on TV. Oprah, she has bad hair days just like us!

5.

Oprah’s was fired from her first television job because she was deemed “unfit for TV”. She said it was “first and worst failure of my TV career”. Their loss.

6.

Via seaandbescene.com

In 1998, Oprah won the Lifetime Achievement award at the Daytime Emmys. After her win, she withdrew herself and her show from consideration for future Emmy awards. She explained, “After you’ve achieved it for a lifetime, what else is there?”

7.

Via boomsbeat.com

Two days after starting kindergarten, Oprah wrote to her teacher to say, "I don't think I belong here 'cause I know a lot of big words." The teacher did not hesitate and Oprah skipped to the first grade.

8.

Via cnn.com

In 2004, Oprah was the first black person to rank among the 50 most generous Americans. By 2012 she had contributed roughly $400 million to educational causes.

9.

Via theworldobserver.com.au

Oprah has treated her entire staff and their families to a European cruise. Best. Boss. Ever.

10.

Via blogs.suntimes.com

For eight years straight, Oprah made a Favorite Things List and gave all the audience members of her TV show everything on that list. This included items like a 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, diamond earrings, $500 Nordstrom gift card, television set and blu-ray player, Tory Burch bags and shoes, iPad, four pairs of Nike running shoes, a Nikon D3100 digital camera, a Caribbean cruise (including a round-trip flight to get there and back), and Ralph Lauren cashmere sweaters and blankets, and that’s not even half of it.

11.

Michael Caulfield// /WireImage.com Michael Caulfield / Via worldhistoryproject.org

After Oprah won the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for her services to television and film, she took her entire staff and their families (that’s 1,064 people total) on a Hawaiian vacation to celebrate and thank them for their hard work.

Still want more Oprah? Of course you do. Check out The Oprah Effect by Nancy Mehagian to learn how Oprah has inspired us all to find happiness and personal fulfillment.